How-to · Updated October 2026

How to Change DNS on Android, iPhone and Windows (Step by Step)

DNS is the internet's address book: it turns a name like example.com into the numbers your device needs to connect. In Pakistan many blocks work by making blocked names stop resolving through your provider's DNS server. Pointing your device at a public DNS service can bring those sites back, and it takes about a minute. This guide covers Android, iPhone, Windows, browsers and routers.

Which DNS Service to Use

Any of these works. Note that the DNS service you pick sees the names you look up, so choose one you are comfortable trusting.

Android: Private DNS (Works on Wi-Fi and Mobile Data)

Android 9 and newer has a built-in setting, so no app is needed.

1. Open Settings and go to Network & internet (on Samsung: Connections, then More connection settings).
2. Tap Private DNS.
3. Choose Private DNS provider hostname.
4. Type one.one.one.one (or dns.google) and tap Save.

Menu names differ slightly between brands. If you cannot find it, search for "Private DNS" in your settings.

iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, then the i button next to your network.
2. Tap Configure DNS and choose Manual.
3. Remove the existing servers, then add 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.
4. Tap Save.

This applies only to that Wi-Fi network. For mobile data on iPhone you need a DNS app or profile, such as Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 app.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings, then Network & internet, then Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) and Hardware properties.
2. Next to DNS server assignment choose Edit, switch to Manual and turn on IPv4.
3. Enter 1.1.1.1 as the preferred DNS and 1.0.0.1 as the alternate.
4. If offered, set the encryption option to Encrypted only (DNS over HTTPS), then save.

On Windows 10, go to Control Panel, Network and Sharing Center, Change adapter settings, open your adapter's properties, choose Internet Protocol Version 4, and enter the same addresses.

In Your Browser (DNS over HTTPS)

Chrome: Settings, Privacy and security, Security, then turn on Use secure DNS and pick a provider. Firefox: Settings, Privacy & Security, then scroll to DNS over HTTPS. This only affects that browser, but it also works on devices where you cannot change system settings.

On Your Router (Covers Every Device)

Log in to your router's admin page (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, with the login printed on the router), find the DNS or Internet settings, and enter the public DNS addresses. Every phone and laptop on that Wi-Fi then uses them.

Did It Work? What to Do If Not

Close and reopen the browser, then reload the page. If the site still fails, the block is probably not DNS-level, or your provider is intercepting DNS requests. At that point DNS is ruled out and you can move on to a web proxy or a VPN. If anything else breaks, switch the setting back to automatic.